"Steve" wrote in message ...
I've done this when I beach my boat for bottom scrubbing or when I'm on a
"Grid". (If I'm on a Grid, there is usually a set of pilings to lean
against on one side but it is still a good idea to run a halyard off that
side to make sure she has a list in the direction of the piling as the tide
goes out.)

You should be ok on the hard, however it might depend on how your boat is
built. If it is an older wooden boat, you may need the support of stands to
help keep her shape. The frame and keel structure relies on support
distributed over the entire under water surface, not just the keel. The keel
should support only about 50% while the side supports the remainder.. (this
is a general rule of thumb for steel ships in dry dock.)

If your boat is fiberglass and has a fin or attached keel, you also should
be using a cradle of boat stands. Even then you need support of the stem and
stern.

There should be no problem using the mast and rigging to keep the boat
upright, as long as she is landed and maintained in a vertical conditions. I
wouldn't recommend moving a lot of fuel or weight around if your just
holding her with halyards.

Wouldn´t it be simpler to get additional supports and put them
alongside the original ones and take these off, painting the area
underneath and replace them when the epoxy paint has polymerized. A
bit of waxed paper on the top panel would prevent adhesion.
john

"beryl george" wrote in message
...
From other members of the news group thoughts and
experience am I missing something or is this something
that can be carried out providing there is care with
a reasonable degree of ease and safety.

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.

The boat weight is around 10 ton with a 50 foot
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.

I don't know what you mean by "epoxy", if you were referring to bottom
paint, what we do in these parts is apply as much as we can while the boat
is in the cradle, then have the yard pick up the boat with the travelift and
leave it in the air overnight so that we can get the spots that we couldn't
do while the boat is in the cradle.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...73258492izAlis Something like
this, actually just like this, if you look you'll notice a square area where
the paint looks lighter. They pick the boat up at the end of the day and put
it in first thing in the morning, more than enough time for the paint to
cure. If something happens to the boat while it's sitting in their
travelift, their insurance has to cover it. If I damage my boat or my
neighbors while attempting to jack it out of the cradle or something along
those lines I'll be in a world of hurt, insurance wise.
John Cairns

"beryl george" wrote in message
...
From other members of the news group thoughts and
experience am I missing something or is this something
that can be carried out providing there is care with
a reasonable degree of ease and safety.

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.

The boat weight is around 10 ton with a 50 foot
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.

I don't know what you mean by "epoxy", if you were referring to bottom
paint, what we do in these parts is apply as much as we can while the boat
is in the cradle, then have the yard pick up the boat with the travelift and
leave it in the air overnight so that we can get the spots that we couldn't
do while the boat is in the cradle.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...73258492izAlis Something like
this, actually just like this, if you look you'll notice a square area where
the paint looks lighter. They pick the boat up at the end of the day and put
it in first thing in the morning, more than enough time for the paint to
cure. If something happens to the boat while it's sitting in their
travelift, their insurance has to cover it. If I damage my boat or my
neighbors while attempting to jack it out of the cradle or something along
those lines I'll be in a world of hurt, insurance wise.
John Cairns

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle
Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle
Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 08:47:36 -0000, "Nigel"
wrote:


Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle

Because it can pull the cradle out. Even tying to your own cradle is a
bad idea. If a wind kicks up it can start the boat rocking and
vibrating. That's the worst time you'd want a rope that might be
flapping around in the wind putting tension on the cradle trying to pull
it out.

If you HAVE to tie something off to the cradle (like tying off a tarp)
take the line under the boat and tie it to the one on the other side.
That way, at least the line is pulling the cradle in instead of out..

Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Actually, as long as the ropes are strong enough and they are secured
well at ground level and you have a big enough angle at the mast
(probably at *least* 45 degrees), it doesn't seem so bad to me. You're
not supporting the boat, you're only preventing it from tipping over
(same thing cradles do btw.) The rig should be able to take the stress.
Afterall, what do you think is pushing the boat over when you heel.

You may want to have multiple sets of ropes, one set at the top and one
set at the spreaders, kind of like the way radio towers are supported at
multiple levels.

If it's well balanced and you keep an eye on the tension so it doesn't
try and start to tip over, no big deal. Not something for long term
unattended storage though.

Steve

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 08:47:36 -0000, "Nigel"
wrote:


Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle

Because it can pull the cradle out. Even tying to your own cradle is a
bad idea. If a wind kicks up it can start the boat rocking and
vibrating. That's the worst time you'd want a rope that might be
flapping around in the wind putting tension on the cradle trying to pull
it out.

If you HAVE to tie something off to the cradle (like tying off a tarp)
take the line under the boat and tie it to the one on the other side.
That way, at least the line is pulling the cradle in instead of out..

Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Actually, as long as the ropes are strong enough and they are secured
well at ground level and you have a big enough angle at the mast
(probably at *least* 45 degrees), it doesn't seem so bad to me. You're
not supporting the boat, you're only preventing it from tipping over
(same thing cradles do btw.) The rig should be able to take the stress.
Afterall, what do you think is pushing the boat over when you heel.

You may want to have multiple sets of ropes, one set at the top and one
set at the spreaders, kind of like the way radio towers are supported at
multiple levels.

If it's well balanced and you keep an eye on the tension so it doesn't
try and start to tip over, no big deal. Not something for long term
unattended storage though.

Steve

It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
..
..
..
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.

It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
..
..
..
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.

Aaron wrote in message . 3.44...
It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
.
.
.
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.


I dunno but I suspect that many boats are ok being supported only by
the weight being on their keels. However, one thing that strikes me
is that when the Titanic sank, she was initially in one piece and only
broke in half when the upward force of the water was removed from her
entire hull when she was submerged. She was designed to be supported
evenly all over by the water, once this support was removed, she broke
in half. Does this apply?, probably not.